Parenting and Babies: Baby Talk Blog

If you’re new to the search for the perfect baby blanket for your little one, you may be confused about all the different types that are out there. Here’s the rundown:

Receiving blankets are lightweight blankets that are wrapped around or placed under a baby. These blankets are used for warmth and hygiene, particularly after a bath. Swaddling blankets are a great way to settle and sooth an irritable baby. They wrap the baby snugly and restrict movement of the limbs, and are conducive to rest and relaxation. Throw blankets are smaller blankets, often in decorative colors and patterns, that can be used for extra warmth outside of bed. And of course there’s the classic blanket to be used in your child’s crib or bed.

Whichever type (or types!) you choose, make your decision with care—this is an item that your baby will love and become attached to.

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Everyone’s looking for a unique baby blanket. But with so many different baby blankets out there, it may be that the only way to make your child’s blankey truly unique is to knit it yourself. Making a baby blanket is a snap, and knitting can be soothing and pleasurable. Why not give it a shot?

All you’ll need is some yarn, a couple of needles and a bit of patience. This site features a plethora of adorable, unique designs, and also has instructions and a forum. Happy knitting!

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While celebrities rush off to find the most expensive, haute-couture baby blankets they can find, a lot of ordinary folks are finding that knitting their own has a lot more benefits. The women I’ve talked to say that knitting, as opposed to buying, is more satisfying and gives the blanket a much more personal feel that babies will appreciate. A hand-knit baby blanket also makes a fantastic gift for a baby shower or birthday—it’s easy and fun to make, and gives you a lasting bond to the baby who receives it.

The internet is overflowing with sites and blogs about knitting baby blankets. Do a quick search and you can come up with photos, designs, instructions, forums and more. There are whole online communities dedicated to knitting baby blankets and other items, and many of these people will be more than happy to help you if you’re having troubles or in doubt.

Of course, knitting isn’t for everybody. If you’d like to stick to the traditional route and buy a baby blanket, there are plenty of fantastic options out there.

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These days it seems like every baby blanket you see is monogrammed, embroidered, and personalized. Are parents concerned about mix-ups or do they just want their child’s blanket to stand out?

Well, for one thing, a baby blanket that’s personalized with your baby’s name will help ensure that they know it’s just for them. Having their name on it will not only help your child to associate letters with sound of their name, but will also help them to form an intimate bond with this all-important object. After all, some of a baby’s first memories will be associated with their blankeys.

The way I see it, if you’re going to splurge on one item for your baby, it should be their blanket. And if you’re going to go all out to make sure that it’s special and unique, personalized baby blankets are the way to go.

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Everyone wants their baby’s blanket to stand out—no humdrum piece of cloth will do! That’s why I’ve been trolling the internet for the most unique baby blankets I can find. Here are some of my favorites that I’ve come across so far. The Chenille Duo Blanket from Little Giraffe has a classy two-tone design and looks like it’s just as soft as can be! This blanket can also be monogrammed and embroidered for a little extra touch.

While that one’s a bit pricey, I also found an organic cotton baby blanket with an equally attractive design. Cotton is lightweight and breathable, and organic materials are important to consider in today’s world.

Well, I’m going to get back to the searching—I’ll let you know what I find!

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Nobody wants to carry their toddler into the bath and into bed kicking and screaming. We all need time to relax away from our children, but hurrying your little one off to bed can make him or her feel powerless, disrespected, and shunned. But it doesn’t have to be this way—bedtime can be the best part of the day, for child and parent alike. Here’s how:

1) Come into the process with a positive attitude. If you’re tired and upset from your day, then these feelings will transfer to your child and you’ve already lost half the battle. Taking time to take care of yourself during the day will help put you in a better mood by bedtime.

2) Have both parents participate in the bedtime ritual. This will make it more fun and less of a burden or struggle.

3) Start the bedtime ritual with plenty of time to spare before it’s time to go to sleep. This will make the process less rushed and more relaxed.

4) Give your child choices in the way that their bedtime routine goes. This will make them feel more important and less controlled, and they will be much more willing to comply.

5) Respect your child’s time by letting him know in advance how long he’s got until bedtime. This will give him time to finish up what he’s doing.

6) Make the bedtime ritual personal and intimate. Doing things like talking to your children about their day, telling them you love them, or bringing up pleasant memories will let them associate positive, pleasant feelings with bedtime.

7) Once the ritual is complete, make it clear that it is time for bed and that you’re not going to talk to them anymore. They may struggle at first, but this is a crucial part of the bedtime experience.

By using these tactics, you can turn putting your child to bed from the most stressful part of your day to the most pleasant, and get your little one to sleep easily and happily.

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We all want our children to have original, interesting names-after all, we live in an extremely individualistic society. When choosing a name, though, it's important to tow the line between originality and conventionality. Nobody wants their child to have a boring name, but you have to be careful not to cross over from creative to weird. Here are some of the newest trends in baby naming-hopefully this will help inspire you to find the perfect name for your young one!

1) A surprising number of the novel new baby names out there are actually culled from times long gone. Names like Elijah, Sebastian, Hannah and Abigail call to mind a frontier, pioneering spirit, while names like Julian and Annabel are reminiscent of 19th Century sophistication.

2) Names from other parts of the world are becoming much more popular nowadays. Irish and Celtic names are particularly popular for both boys and girls, as are French names. More exotic sources of inspiration include Arabic, Greek, and even Swahili.

3) Names formerly though to be exclusively surnames are making a resurgence as first names. For boys, rugged, masculine tradesman names are popular, whereas more and more girls are being given boyish names that shorten to cute girls names, such as Cassidy shortening to Cassie.

4) Finally, plenty of parents decide to circumvent tradition altogether and invent their own names. Surprisingly, there are remarkable similarities between these made-up names, which tend to have bright, cheery intonations, and distinct vowel sounds. Variations in the Kayla-Jayden-Kylie vein are very popular.

In 2007, the most popular girls' names were Sophia, Isabella, Emma, Madison, and Ava, while the most popular for boys were Aiden, Ethan, Jacob, Jayden, and Caden. If you're still having trouble, there are countless websites and books out there to help!

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For years, Stephen Joseph has been making some of the highest-quality, most unique toddler backpacks available. They’re prized for their simplicity, functionality, and attractive designs. But, wanting Kayden’s first backpack to be special, I still couldn’t decide between their two most popular types of backpack, the Go-Go Backpacks and the Quilted Backpacks, so I did a head-to-head comparison. Here’s what I found:

- Design—I think I like the Go-Go Backpacks a little bit more in this category. I like the simply, flat, glossy images, and the Go-Go Backpacks come in more varieties for both genders.

- Comfort—A comfortable backpack is essential, or a child simply won’t want to wear it. I give this one to the Quilted Backpacks—the material is softer and the shape of the pack seems to be just a little bit easier on the back.

- Functionality—As far as I can tell, this one’s a tie. The Quilted Backpacks can hold a bit more and have multiple pockets, but the Go-Go Backpack is just so easy to clean, and totally stain resistant. They’re both durable and well-constructed, and are both the right size for a toddler about to enter preschool.

In my book it’s still a toss-up, but hopefully this will help you make a decision. Either way, I’m sure you’re child will love it!

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With all the different baby blankets out there, the whole process can seem a bit impersonal. One way to make your child’s blanket as special as possible is to knit it yourself! It’s not as hard as it sounds, and making your baby’s blanket by hand will ensure that it has a significant and lasting emotional resonance.

And best of all, it’s everything you could want a baby blanket to be: durable, colorful, machine-washable, very soft, and of course pleasing to the eye. If you feel like getting a bit arts-and-craftsy, check out these super easy baby blanket instructions.

Of course, another way to make sure that your baby’s blanket is personal and one-of-a-kind is to get it monogrammed with their name or initials.

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Celebrities can’t get enough of Little Giraffe! From Ellen Degeneres and her Deluxe Dot Luxe Blankets to Brooke Burke and her Chenille Baby Blanket, Little Giraffe items have been flying off the shelves of the hottest baby stores in New York and LA. Especially popular is the Luxe Collection, featuring the finest baby blankets, pillows, hooded towels, and throws.
Halle Berry stocked up on dozens of items from this collection for her daughter Nahla at the posh NoMi Boutique in Los Angeles. Other celebrity parents thrilled with Little Giraffe baby blankets and other items include Katie Holmes, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Garner, and Angelina Jolie.

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We all know how important a blanket is to a baby. Some of their first memories will be of the soft, warm blanky that they fall asleep with at night. Nowadays, though, there are so many options out there that the choice can be a bit daunting.

Here are a few tips I’ve come up with to help you wade through all the baby blanket options out there:

- Pick a material that feels good to you. If it feels good against your face, your baby will love it. Chenille and velvet baby blankets are very popular right now.

- Choose a color that your baby will respond to. Pastels and more muted colors are best for relaxation and sleep.

- These blankets will get a lot of wear! Make sure you pick a material that’s durable and machine washable.

- For a special touch, you can go for a personalized baby blanket that’s monogrammed with their name or initials.

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